The National Museum of the Philippines has begun photo and video documentation of the sunken Spanish war transport San Quintín in Subic Bay.
According to the museum’s social media post, the San Quintín shipwreck, scuttled near Grande Island in 1898 during the Spanish-American War, has become a popular dive site. It holds historical significance as the oldest known wreck in Subic Bay, sunk to block incoming American naval vessels.
Additionally, the wreck has evolved into an artificial reef, hosting a vibrant marine ecosystem that attracts numerous divers.
From Nov. 13 to 26, a team from the museum’s Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage Division (MUCHD), supported by divers from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Ecology Section, Harbor Patrol, and the Olongapo-Zambales Divers Association (OZDA), conducted extensive documentation.
The team photographed and filmed the entire shipwreck, measured and illustrated key sections, including the bow, stern, and steam boiler, and assessed the wreck’s physical condition. This work is part of preparations for future conservation interventions.
